Andre Benjamin

We don’t do the spoiler thing here at TV Freak. So you’ll get no big hints at what happens in tonight’s spectacular 90-minute finale of “The Shield.”

All I can say is that this groundbreaking crime series goes out the way all great shows should (but few do), which is brilliantly. And, yes, we get a definitive ending to the Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) story. There is no munching on onion rings in a roadside diner. There is no abrupt fade to black.

This is probably one of the best drama finales I’ve seen. It contains tantalizing twists, a couple of real shocks and some highly poignant moments. It’s a finale you really feel.

There are some great acting performances from the usual suspects that we’ve come to expect (Walton Goggins as Shane is particularly effective) and even one from a guest star — Andre Benjamin of Outkast — that you might not expect. He is excellent as a rabble-rousing political shyster.

Even if you’ve lost track of “The Shield” over the years, it’s worth your while to return to the Barn tonight to see what creator Shawn Ryan and his remarkable ensemble have concocted as their going-away gift. No doubt about it, this show will definitely be missed.